The waves crashed against the kayak as Victoria Bergmark paddled along the coast of Bohuslän and realized she couldn't tell where one island ended and another began. Bare rock everywhere, no trees to navigate by – completely unlike the Norrland coast she knew so well. She felt small. But she kept paddling, stroke after stroke, as she would for nearly three months.
It had taken several years from the moment the idea first surfaced to Victoria actually sitting in her kayak and starting Havspaddarnas Blå Band – a paddling journey along the entire Swedish coastline. Her interest in outdoor life had come late. As a teenager in a small inland village in Västerbotten, she hated everything to do with being outdoors. Mosquitoes, rain, all of it. But as an adult she discovered kayaking, and something clicked into place. "This is where I belong," as she put it. She started reading books by Jim Danielsson and Bengt Larsson, followed other paddlers on social media, and a small seed was planted. As early as 2016, she wrote a post on Facebook saying that one day she might make such a journey herself.
But between dream and reality, life stood in the way. The children were too young to leave, the timing wasn't right. Victoria waited patiently, without ever letting go of the idea. Around 2020–2021 the pieces fell into place – her youngest daughter was old enough to manage on her own, and Victoria took the leap. She made her decision. "That's probably the biggest thing," she said. "Making the decision – now I'm going to do it. Once you've made that decision, you just go for it. Whether it's one year away or three years doesn't matter."
Then the challenges began. Victoria applied for a month's leave of absence, planning to combine it with saved vacation days and summer leave. Everything was approved. But in the spring of 2022, just before departure, her employer suddenly revoked the leave. Victoria arrived at a simple conclusion: "Then I'll quit." She had invested too much time, money, and commitment to give up. She called her paddling journey "Follow Your Heart" and shaped hearts from stones and natural materials every day along the coast – a reminder to follow your heart, especially when setbacks piled up. In the end, her colleagues stepped up, swapped vacation periods, and covered her shifts. She never had to resign. But she had been ready to.
Victoria set out alone in April but soon developed an inflammation in her arm. Around the same time, paddler Jonna Ingvaldsson reached out – her own travel companion had dropped out. Victoria hesitated at first, but they gave it a try, and it worked. Eventually a third paddler joined them, and the three of them finished together after 88 days.
What hit Victoria hardest was the contrast upon coming home. When they paddled into Kalmar, they passed people on the quayside lost in their own little worlds. "They have no idea," she thought. "They're on their hamster wheels, and here we are, savoring life." But everyday life was waiting – and it came back brutally fast.
Today, when someone points toward a horizon along the Swedish coast, Victoria knows she has paddled past that place. It's a feeling that never fades.
Her advice to anyone carrying a similar dream is simple but powerful: Confront your fears, big and small – identify them and find concrete solutions instead of letting them drain your energy. Be flexible, because nothing turns out the way you planned, and that's part of the magic. And above all: make the decision.
"If you have a dream, follow it. It's as simple as that. The challenge itself isn't the hardest part – the greatest challenge is simply making the decision."
The question isn't whether you can. The question is when you choose to do it.
Top tips from Victoria
